Chapter: 14
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me
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“I have to help her.” Grandpa breathed. But the moment he stepped forward the Fast Biters turned on him, driving him back.
“Dear!” Grandma called, whether as warning or cry for help he wasn’t sure. Red Claw shot forward, aiming for her neck. Her tail slapped against his side, throwing his aim off just enough to miss her. He growled at the Fast Biters, who started to circle the female. She stepped back, needing to bring them to one side of her, otherwise she was lost. The scars on her body rippled as she turned to slap away one of them. Red Claw used her distraction to flank her, aiming for her flank. He hit her hard, toppling the Longneck. She grunted in pain as she crashed down, several of her just-healed bones not appreciating the sudden pressure.
She struggled to get back to her feet, freezing when a thundering roar sounded. It was answered by another, Red Claw backing down a bit as breaking branches heralded the approach of something big.
The Flattooth used his distraction, hoisting herself up with another grunt, turning to face the new arrivals: two more adult Sharpteeth, one light-green, the other dark-green, left the cover of the trees, snarling as they slowed to a stop.
Grandpa Longneck paled in horror, watching as the Sharpteeth surrounded his mate. Roars and growls floated over the field as the three talked to one another. Grandma Longneck did not move, only her eyes flitting from one threat to another.
Red Claw snarled something, and the two Fast Biters returned to the others. Grandma roared, throwing her tail from side to side, the air whooshing around it. He answered her by snapping at her neck, driving her back to the other two.
They in turn did not move, merely waiting until their prey was in reach. Their blood-red eyes followed every move of the Longneck, their muscles flexing in preparation for the attack. Their teeth shone a terrible white in the light of the Bright Circle, a grin playing around the lips of the dark-green one.
“Just a bit more…” The light-green one whispered. “A bit more.” Her eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring as she smelled the scent of her prey.
Grandma glanced over her shoulder, before turning to her mate. His eyes were filled with horror, looking from her to the Sharpteeth.
Red Claw made another step forward, but this time she did not back away, despite his teeth intend on killing her. Instead she threw another last glance at Grandpa, smiling weakly and rose to her hind-feet. He had the feeling that it was her death all over again: this was the exact same position he had last seen her: on her hind-feet, surrounded by meat-eaters.
This time she had no intention of falling, instead balancing while her forelegs swung through the air. Red Claw moved back a bit hesitantly, not willing to risk having her crush him. He might have preferred that to the alternative.
Using the distraction of their prey, the other two Sharpteeth shot forward, rounding the Longneck and biting down on the pale-grey body. Red Claw screamed in pain and anger. In answer the other two merely bit down harder. The light-green Sharptooth had taken hold of his leg, while the other was busy breaking his neck.
The Fast Biters were distracted by this unexpected turn.
“Chomper!” Grandma called, crashing down on the ground.
The answer was a roar that was more adorable than threatening. A grey blur passed by most of the Flatteeth, heading straight for Thud. The young Sharptooth was busy developing the powerful jaw-muscles of the grown-ups and he had every intention to use them: he latched onto the Fast Biter’s leg and didn’t let go.
Thud hissed in pain, snarling at the young dinosaur. Chomper looked at him, grinning around the flesh in his jaws. Thud roared at him, and the roar that was answer to THAT was more threatening than adorable.
The pale-green Sharptooth the children had seen when Doc had visited burst from the trees, jaws opened wide. Now Chomper let go, dropping to the ground as Thud tried to evade the new arrival. But the teeth of the young Sharptooth had done damage that slowed him down. He stood no chance.
On the other side of the field Red Claw had managed to shake off the Sharpteeth biting him, growling at them. They in turn snarled at him and started to flank him. He realized too late that the Longneck had not used to distraction to try and get to the herd. Her powerful tail alerted him to that fact all too painfully. She managed to hit the bite of the pale-green one, causing pain to shoot through his body.
He roared at her, which she answered with another swing with her tail. This time he evaded, but only barely. One of the Sharpteeth tried to once again bite him, but he wheeled around in time, ignoring the pain in his neck and leg.
“Why would you help Flatteeth?” He demanded. “They are our food, not friends.”
“Perhaps.” The dark-green male answered. “But they never did what you did: threaten our child. In fact they protected him countless times.”
“Child?” Red Claw echoed, glancing to where their pale-green daughter was driving the Fast Biters back. Behind her feet was a gray hatchling. “Chomper is your son?”
“Bingo.” The light-green female made a step forward. “Our son you threatened several times, if the stories are to be believed.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t have send him to the buffet then.” Red Claw snarled, snapping at the approaching female.
“That is not up for debate here.” Chomper’s father stated. “The Longneck knows this. She knows that as long as the Flatteeth are the ones defending our son, we will help her. Perhaps not protect, but definitely help. In turn, we know that we can only count on her help while we do not threaten her child.”
